Promotion officials announced the matchup on Tuesday evening, also
revealing that lightweights Anthony
Pettis and Donald
Cerrone will square off at the event, which takes place at the
United Center in Chicago.

Johnson, 26, captured the UFC flyweight title earlier this year by
winning the promotion’s four-man tournament, outpointing Ian McCall in
June and then doing the same to Joseph
Benavidez on Sept. 22 at UFC 152. The Washingtonian has never
been finished in 19 pro fights and has stopped over half of his
career victims by either knockout or submission.

Dodson, meanwhile, has not lost since 2009. “The Magician”
introduced himself to UFC fans one year ago as a cast member on
“The Ultimate Fighter” Season 14, winning the reality series’
bantamweight tournament by knocking out T.J.
Dillashaw at the live finale. Dodson then returned to 125
pounds in 2012, outpointing Tim Elliott
in May before earning a technical knockout over Jussier da
Silva last month at UFC on FX 5.

Pettis bested Benson
Henderson nearly two years ago to become the final World
Extreme Cagefighting lightweight titlist prior to the WEC merging
with the UFC. “Showtime” then dropped a unanimous decision to
Clay
Guida in his inaugural Octagon appearance but has since won two
straight bouts, taking a split verdict from Jeremy
Stephens roughly 13 months ago before knocking out Joe Lauzon at
UFC 144 this past February.

Cerrone has won eight of his last nine fights and has looked
impressive in 2012 thus far, thoroughly outpointing Stephens in May
before delivering a come-from-behind knockout against former
teammate Melvin
Guillard at UFC 150 on Aug. 11. A veteran of 24 career outings,
“Cowboy” holds 13 of his 19 pro victories by way of submission and
has never been knocked out.